Washing apparatus for laboratories



July 12. 1921.- 1,635,633

Y J. B. PARKER WASHING Armauus FOR maonflonms,

Filed April 13,1925 2 sheets-sheet 1- 7 .Jmentoz 45mm 93. T RKER.

J. a. PARKER mama animus FOR usoamams Filed-Avril 1:. 1926 2 Shee ts -Sheet Jmntw ARKER.

' new.

Patented July 12, 1927.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WASHING APPARATUS FOR LABORATORIESi Application filed April 13, 1926. Serial Nb. 101,785.

The present invention relates to washing and testing apparatus for laboratories, and consists in the combinations and arrangements of elements hereinafter described and particularly. set forth in the accompanying claims, and its main use is in preparation of materials for histological study.

One object of the invention resides in the use of a number of tubes mounted and freely suspended in a receptacle or basin in such a manner that materials may easily be washed by liquids (usually water) passing downwards through the tubes and freely out at their lower ends,-and in this manner shortening the time of the washing process.

Another object of the invention is to arrange the tubes inseries under a pipe in such a manner that one or more may be used at a time and that the flow of liquid can be regulated to only a few drops per minute when so desired. This is accomplished by the use of specially "constructed plugs in the feed valves so that by setting the plugs in different angular positions a greater or smaller amount of washing liquid will be fed to the tubes.

This apparatus will thus enable the histologist, in the preparation of materials. to washout from them quickly and with the least trouble to himself, the chemical or re- 7 agent used in the killing-or fixing process.

Furthermore, I arrange the tubes in the apparatus so that they may be removed iiidividually therefrom or together with the receptacle or basin. For this purpose a clip for each tube is provided to grip the top thereof and afoot or leg beneath it to raise it from the bottom of the basin, thereby permitting free flow of washing liquid from the bottom end of the tube in all radial directions. v v I I The basin has a locking device for securely fastening it to the stand of the apparatus, in order to prevent accidents and insure the proper registration between the valve spouts and the tubes. This locking device is made to quickly disengage the basin from the stand when the latter is to be removed.

At the top of the apparatus is fixedly mounted a feed pipe for wateror other liquidused in washing the material and on trated, and

'when the valve is fully open.

this pipe a plurality of valves is provided,

one for each tube. In the accompanying drawings one embodiment of the invention has been illus- Figure 1 represents a front elevation, partly in section, of the apparatus;

Figure 2 a horizontal sectional view along the line 22 of Figure 1; V

Figure 3 a vertical section along line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4C a vertical section in larger scale of one of the details;

Figure 5 a section along line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 a fragmentary side View of the lower end of atube; and

Figure 7 a bottom plan view of Figure 6.

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 denotes a rack or stand, preferably of metal, and comprising end posts 11 extending upwardly from the bottom 9 on feet 12-. Between the posts is fixed a pipe 13 closed at one end and open at the other, as at 14, to receive a hose or other connection with a source of supply of the water or other liquid used for the washing. 7

On the under side of the pipe 13 is to be found a series of outlet orifices 14 with valves 15 having a narrow tapering spout 16, as best seen in Figures 4 and 5. The valve plug 17'is in the usual manner provided witha transverse passage 18 adapted to connect the orifice 14: with the spout 16 Small grooves 19, 19 run in opposite directions from the passage 18 oircumferentially on the surface of the plug and diminish in sectional area, 19 being preferably smaller than 19. In this manner the valve may not only be set fully closed or fully open, but also, when tlie plug is partly turned, to permit a very slow dripping from the spout when so desirech The usual stops to limit the turning of the plug are provided in the valve. I

On the bottom9 rests a receptacle or basin 20 of the full width and length of the rack, or stand 10 and terminating a. short distance below the end of the spouts 16 to permit easy removal. In order to properly position the basin in the stand or rack 10. the

stop 21 at each end adapted to side of the end posts 11. A spring snap is also provided ateach end of the basin 20 for engaging; the other side at the end posts 11, thus securing the basin in place.

Along! the top edge oi the basin is arranged a series of clips 23 having the same spacing as the valves 15, and each adapted to grip a tube 24; and hold it upright directly under the corresponding valve spout 16 so that the latter can discharge into the tube. An overflow pipe is shown at 30 in order to maintain a constant level of the washing fluid while the washing process is carried out.

The tube is preferably cyliiulrical and open at both ends. its upper end, as already described, suspended from the clip :23, but the lower end is gripped by a spring c amp 25 which has a leg 26 by means of which the tube is supported on the bottom of the basin 20 at a height therefrom to pern'rit :tree pass go oi the liquid from the tube 24: in all three In other words. the lower basin has aengage one ions. end of the tube is in this manner spaced from the bottom of the basin about; half the diameter ot the tube in order to malte sure that the end of the tube does not touch the bottom of the basin.

The spring clamp 25 also serves another purpose, namely to secure the strainer 27 in position under and around the lower end of the tube in order to retain the material to be washed in the tube. After placing the strainer in this manner on the tube, the clamp is slipped over and around it, giving sutlicient pressure to hold it in place. The strainer may be made oil any suitable material, such as felt. metal gauze, or any 'labric best suited for the purpose of wash inc; the contents of the tubes.

litter the material to be washed has been placed in the tubes and the tubes inserted in the clips in the basin, the latter is placed in the rack and one or another of the valves is opened tally or partly to permit the water to enter at the top of the tube and escape at the bottom thereof atter having washed the contents of the tube. The water may he ltept running" continuously and the overflow is taken care oit' by the pipe 230. Any individual tube may thereupon be removed and reinserted or replaced by another at any time, or the entire basin may be removed at the will of the operator.

The above description discloses one embodiment of my invention, butit is obvious that several modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of my invention.

lVhat I claim as new is:

1. A tube having inlet and outlet openings of substantially the same cross sec tional area, a strainer tor the outlet openin and means having), a downwardly dirccted leg portion tor remorably securing the strainer e. :teri rly on the tube.

2. A. tube having inlet and outlet openings of substantially the same cross sectional area, a strainer :lor the outlet opening, and means including a coiled wire for removably securii'ig the strainer exteriorly on the tube and spacing the outlet end thereof from a supporting element.

:3. A tube havinginlet and outlet openings of substantially the same cross sectional area, a strainer tor the outlet opening, and means for rei'i'iovably securing the strainer exteriorly on the nan and spacing the out let end thereof from a supporting element,

said means coniprising a coiled wire having a downwardly extending leg portion.

l. in an apparatus of the class described, a basin, tubes as described in claim 2, and clips adjacent the top ol the basin forming suspension members tor said tubes; the bottom of the basin forming the supporting ele ment for the tubes.

in an apparatus ol the class described. a stand. a supply pipe carried by the stand and provided with spaced outlet orifices, a basin removably supported. on the stand. tubes as described in claim 2, clips on the basin 'l'orming suspension members for said tubes spaced to permit registry between said orilices and said tubes, and discharging members connected with the orilices adapted to teed a required amount of liquid into the tubes from said supply pipe.

(i. In an apparatus of the class described, a stand, a supply pipe carried by the stand and provided with spaced outlet orifices, a basin removably supported on the stand, locking means between the stand and the basin, tubes as described in claim 2, clips on the basin forming suspension members tor said tubes spaced to permit the registen inc between said orifices and said tubes, and discharging members connectcdwith the oriiices adapted to feed a required amount of liquid into the tubes from said. supply pipe.

7. ln an apparatus of the class described. a stand, a supply pipe carried by the stand and provided with spaced outlet orifices. a basin rcmovably supported on the stand, lockingmembers between the st and and the basin. tubes as described in claim 2, suspension niei'nl'iers on the basin comprising metal clips tor said tubes spaced to permit registry between said orifices and said tubes, and dischai'; ;i1i; members connected with the orifices adapted to :t'ced a required amount of liquid into the tubes troin said supply pipe.

8. A tube having inlet and outlet openings of substantial y the same sectional area, a strainer attached over the outlet opening, and means comprising a wire clip with a downward projection t'or spacing the outlet end of the tube from a supporting element.

9. The combination With a supporting element of a tube having inlet'and outlet openings of substantially the same sectional area, a strainer attached over the outlet opening, and meansfor spacing the outlet end of the tube from the supporting element, said means comprising a coiled spring adapted to embrace the tube and provided with a leg portion situated in substantially'the axial direction of the tube and resting on said supporting element.

In WltllGSSWllGI'BOf, I have hereunto set my hand at WVashington, District of Co lumbia.

JOHN B. PARKER. 

